Reviews by gr0g:

Deep reddish-pink color with a small, light pink-colored head. Hazy, much darker than a sparkling rose, with very fine bubbles. Fruity, musty aroma. A bit of lacto sour notes and a bit more of an acetic acid note. Floral and fruity with more generic berry and sour cherry notes rather than raspberry specifically.

There's major tartness but also some sweetness, and raspberry definitely comes through in the flavor from this 3 month old bottle. Lots of tart berry with a relatively low amount of funk, perhaps masked by the tartness. Really liking the tart/sweet dual nature of this. Fizzy, slick mouthfeel that's well-restrained. Minimal harshness.

This is the first sour ale that I really enjoyed quite a bit. Better than any sparkling wine of similar style I've had. (771 characters)

More User Reviews:

Ok Iam still trying with all my might to aquire the taste for lambic beer in general and drinking a few here in there.this one pours a great blood orange with a great looking pink colored head,aromas of iron and hay along with sour raspberry,really strong.Taste is very sour up front with an iron-like finish that becomes more noticable as you drink more.A very odd taste as well almost like the smell of my uncles barn hits my taste buds.Not a fan but a beer that is true to form and should be respected. (505 characters)

Appearance  This Cantillon poured a beautiful reddish-orange in color with a monster, lasting head.

Smell  The sour, farmy lambic aroma dominates the nose, which is my preference in the style. The raspberries are very light. The sweetish malt is probably even a bit bigger than the raspberries.

Taste  The delicate raspberry flavor comes up nicely at the taste. The farmy sourness is still there but not overpowering. Theres some light sugary sweetness in the malts as well, making this a wonderfully complex and exciting Lambic.

Mouthfeel  This is shy of medium-bodied but nicely-carbonated. Its a little high on the sour meter but if you dont mind then neither do I.

Drinkability  This is a real sipper that will reward the experienced drinker with some fine complexity. (800 characters)

On tap at La Cav du Vin in Cleveland, although I've had this in the bottle, at the brewery, and on tap at other bars several times before.

Appearance: Bright reddish pink with coppery orange hues. Carbonation is steady and visible creating a thin white lace that grows with each lift of the glass only to collapse back after a moment of rest.

Aroma: Raspberry is ever present in the background but never much more than a subdued subtlety. A cider vinegar quality is fairly well pronounced and is well accompanied by lemon rind, musk, and hay. Cherry aromas are faint but present.

Rose de Gambrinus was a Cantillon beer than I was very excited for, both because I love Cantillon's brews and because I'm a raspberry whore. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one and crack it open. It pours a deep, blood red color with a pink-ish, lavender tinted head. Very volatile and effervescent in appearance; the head wisps away within a minute or so and fades to a mere ring at the edges of the ruby brew.

The aroma that met my nose as I leaned in towards the glass was wonderful; near perfect execution of funk and fruit that seems unobtainable by any brewery other than Belgium's best. The amount of raspberry in the aroma was stunning; simply gushing with juicy puree and bursting raspberry skins, both tart and sweet. Despite the heavy hand of the framboise, I was picking up on a nice bit of strawberry in the aroma, too. The pungency and tartness of the fruits sting and cling-on to the saliva glads up front and never seem to let go.

The insane fruit bill collides with an equal share of delicious, Belgian, yeasty funk. Huge notes of must, cheesy funk, barnyard, damp cellar, old cork, and sloppy, wet hay. The funk is incredibly powerful, yet so delicately offset by the marvelousness of the fruit. Without each other, these two parts fail. The fruit is too harsh and tart, or the funk is too powerful and off-putting. But together, they mate and form a complex and lovely display of aroma-melding that not many brewers can achieve.

Fearful that the flavor would not follow through with the wonderful aroma, I bring the glass to my lips. I'm in luck, because Rose de Gambrinus tastes amazing, too. The fruits are up-front, first and foremost, with a huge fruit profile that consists most heavily of raspberries, followed by strawberries, and contains faint portions of grapes and cherries. Tartness is quite high and the juiciness from the fruit is something to be in awe of. Acidic, bursting with power, and exceedingly refreshing.

Funk makes it's appearance a few moments into the first sip and gets stronger as Rose gets warmer. Musty barnyards come to mind, and maybe even a solid helping of horseblanket. Wet cork, hay, and old, damp cellar notes can be found as well, slightly hidden under the blanket of fruity goodness. The finish is as good as the start, full of a largely sweet and fading tart raspberry profile that meshes eloquently with the display of funk. Thin bodied with lots of carbonation for a nice upper-lip smack; sharp, tart, and dry in the finish.

I love sour beers and I love raspberry beers, so there were certainly high expectations going into this bottle of Rose de Gambrinus. It's safe to say that my expectations were not only met, but exceeded by a fair amount as well. Quite simply a wonderful execution of raspberry sourness into a funk-filled, yeast-heavy lambic. Cantillon never disappoints, and their most popular raspberry-centric beer is definitely a home run. (2,926 characters)

A: Orange with both red and yellow hues. Actually quite shiny at first, but after a while it gets rather hazy. Basically no head at all, just a minimal amount of bubbles that quickly disappears and leaves a minimal ring of lacings.

S: A very pleasant smell but not as powerful as I had hoped. Tart raspberries up front, some wild strawberries. Some vinegar. Some funky notes of earth and hay.

T: The first impression of the beer is that it is really tasty, but not overly complex. A somewhat weak taste of tart raspberries. Wheat, a ghost-like hint of grassy bitterness, vinegar and lemon. Not as sharp as some sours, and not harsh at all, the taste is actually really fresh with just minimal funky notes (horse blanket, hay). Some sweet nuances. The finish is all about a long lasting sourness - fantastic. The acidity mixes with some nutty aromas, barrel flavors and just a hint of vanilla.

M: A very pleasant mouthfeel. The beer has, considering the style, a surprisingly full body (but still, we're talking about a body in the medium range). Slightly oily texture with a dry finish. Very gentle carbonation.

D: Unfortunately I think this bottle had some years on it and the raspberry flavors had faded a bit. But still, a very tasty lambic. Would definitely drink it again. (1,285 characters)

2010 vintage opened 2010. Brilliant red color, syanara head. Smells of raspberry, strawberry, pink lemonade, and a miniscule woodiness. The taste is a nice blend of sweet and tart raspberr, finishing dry. It's toned down a bit for Cantillon, causing a lack in the "wow" department. It would be a great beer to toast or celebrate with. In the end, it leaves more to be desired. (376 characters)

After having the Saint Lamvinus I know that Cantillon was a very special brewery and I had very high expectations comming in to this beer. And they were met on all levels. If you are not a fan of sour candies, tart citrus flavors etc. then this might not be the beer for you. But if you do enjoy the above mentioned things, then you might get a kick out of this one. The beer poured very smoothe and created a light amber color with hints of pink and a nice pinkish foamy head around the top. A very unique and beautiful pour. The smell was nice and musty with hints of hay, citrus and a dryness that can only be described as gueuze-like. The flavror was outstanding with a very good sour punch in the front, light malt sweetness in the middle and tart raspberries in the finnish. The perfect sour flavor lingers in your mouth and there is no other way to describe it other than perfection. Another winner from Cantillon! (921 characters)

Smells like you are about to get a blast of sourness and tartness. Gets your mouth watering and your taste buds moving.

Awesomely tart/sour taste, just like the other Cantillion I had. When it first hits you, it almost makes your mouth constrict, if that makes sense. Every taste bud in your mouth comes alive and jumps around. Total pucker-face. It smooths out pretty quickly and leaves a satisfyingly slightly-yeasty aftertaste.

I wish it wasn't so expensive, and that it was available where I live. Those are my only complaints about this fine lambic. (697 characters)

A - Pours a clear red with hints of orange and brown. Half a finger of pink head that dissipates pretty quickly, but maintains a nice collar.

S - Great raspberry aroma with a lot of funk and nice tart elements, including some lemon.

T - Slightly puckering tartness initially, but a nice amount of dry raspberry fruit. Funk presence is modest but there, coming in midway and sticking around after the finish. Tartness also lingers through the finish with a faint bitterness, Aftertaste is quite earthy.

Bottled 2003. Color of apricot nectar, oranged amber and semi unclear. No head really, just a bit of closely knit white bubbles in a ring, with a small island in the center. Deeply soured, slightly cellared scents, raspberry and a bit of woodsyness. Not too intense carbonation, just a nice feel with a bit of swirling. Tastes of fresh, plump raspberry and blackberries, good oakines, and bite. Tingling, almost feel a bit of numbing to the tip of my tongue. Can feel the tang of it! The flavors hit all areas of your tongue. A bit of a peachy aftertaste left in your mouth. Man, this is sweettarts in a bottle. I finally just broke down and grabbed one of these, since I feel like the only person who has not had it on here! (725 characters)

375ml green mini-magnum with no freshness date. Traditionally corked and capped and then foiled.

Appearance: The brewed brandishes a steady stream of carbonation to retain the thin yet semi-sticky lace. I decanted it as to not let any of the sediment into the glass it shows of such a shinny copper hue.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Moderate body, crisp with a creamy malt in the back. Super tart with a balance of fruitiness and souring puckered acidity. Raspberries and earth pile on high with the tartness. Cellar and barnyard flavour appear as well as a minty note. Hops are negligible and the maltiness only holds together as a solid foundation.

Notes: It takes some getting used to, no matter how big of a beer geek you are the first sip always puckers your mouth beyond recognition. A great last beer of the night to either pair with a fruity dessert or a plate of soft cheeses or just as a digestive. (1,033 characters)

Served slightly chilled in a St Bernardus goblet. Hazy, pinkish body is topped by a small, offwhite head. Head quickly fades, leaving spotty patch lace.
Typical fruit lambic aromas. Woodsy, musty, oaky, and assertive barnyard yeast notes. Tart raspberry adds an interesting complexity. Notes of wet animal fur and dried manure are in the background.
Mouthfeel is nicely carbonated, with a medium body. Velvety and effervescent in the mouth.
Taste is tartly acidic, with a nice berry presence. Oak wood essence is very assertive. Tannic and slightly vinous notes abound. Delicate and complex all the way through, with a dry finish.
This Lambic is really true to style. Very earthy and barnyard, with an ideal subtle raspberry presence. Very well made and exceedingly complex. An excellent Fruit Lambic to keep on hand. (823 characters)